Each year, more than 20,000 new software and hardware vulnerabilities are uncovered. While any vulnerability presents a risk, only a fraction will actually be exploited. IT teams need to identify the few hundred vulnerabilities that are likely to be exploited and address them.
This is a huge task that can require a great many hours of work. There are software tools that can streamline the process but finding, prioritizing, and patching vulnerabilities can still be time-consuming. It takes skilled IT professionals away from other tasks and can tie up important systems. To improve efficiency, many organizations are now turning to vulnerability management as a service (VMaaS). By providing cloud-based, automated vulnerability management, VMaaS enhances efficiency and removes the burden of management from IT departments.
What Vulnerabilities Need to be Addressed?
A range of vulnerabilities needs to be managed in modern systems. Software vulnerabilities are the most common. Many companies rely on a vulnerability management program to address these. Hardware can also present vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities can also arise from security practices within an organization.
What is Vulnerability Management as a Service?
The aim of vulnerability management is to identify and address vulnerabilities, whether through mitigation, removal, or remediation. Vulnerability management includes running vulnerability scans, IT asset management, and patch management. VMaaS also incorporates automation.
Previously, this sort of vulnerability assessment and remediation was largely conducted on-site using software that would be run on the premises. Vulnerability Management as a Service removes the need to download and run software on-site. Instead, VMaaS provides the same services from the cloud.
What does VMaaS Involve?
VMaaS consists of several basic steps which form a cyclical process. The first step is discovery, where new issues are identified through vulnerability scanning and penetration tests. Assets (the systems that are in use by an organization) are prioritized according to their role and usage. This allows companies to determine which systems need to be fixed most urgently. Vulnerabilities are then assessed and prioritized.
With security vulnerabilities identified and prioritized, remediation can begin. This can include patching, upgrading, changing practices, etc. Remediation is then verified and a status report is produced. This final step is especially vital when a major issue has been identified. The company’s attack surface can be greatly reduced using this data and the vulnerability management process can be fine-tuned.
Why Use VMaaS?
There are various key differentiators between in-house cyber security, vulnerability management, and VMaaS. Adopting a cloud-based vulnerability management service provides a range of benefits. It allows for more efficient vulnerability scans, based on the current threat landscape. This improves the detection of new vulnerabilities. VMaaS allows for continuous visibility, a crucial feature of modern cyber security. The expertise offered by vulnerability management service providers improves risk-based vulnerability management, helping to identify critical vulnerabilities. VMaaS can automate many aspects of testing and comprehensive vulnerability management. This, combined with manual validation by skilled security teams, can greatly increase detection rates while reducing the number of false positives. Reports can be tailored to the specific requirements of the client organization, providing complete visibility. This streamlines vulnerability assessments by allowing companies and security services to focus on the most urgent risks and critical assets. VMaaS providers have access to more sophisticated vulnerability management tools than most IT departments.
Using vulnerability management services also gives companies full access to security experts from the service provider’s team, who can assist with problems and help improve the client’s security posture. A vulnerability service can provide continuous support in a way that’s difficult for in-house IT departments.
